May 26th 1989. There was so much at stake for Arsenal that night. I was sick with nerves: we had so much to lose, and the odds were against us.

And the fact that the game was played just a couple of months after the Hillsborough disaster, that horrific event in which 96 Liverpool fans lost their lives, meant for dark surreal atmosphere like none other I’d experienced.

It didn’t feel like a night that would have much humour in it.

It’s odd then that my favourite funny footie moment ever, came amongst the tension, sweat, and ultimate ecstasy of Anfield ’89.

Hillsborough affected all football supporters across the land, perhaps because it could have happened to any of us. There had been a temporary ceasefire in the hostility and aggression that 80’s football spurned, replaced instead by a spirit of togetherness and goodwill.

So when the local disabled team came on at half-time to parade the recently won disabled FA Cup, all four sides of the stadium erupted in rapturous applause. On their lap of honour, they went to the Kop, the Kemlyn Road stand, then to our corner in the Anfield Road end – blind, deaf, and crippled sportspeople in their moment of triumph.

We cheered them too, in keeping with the spirit of the occasion, but we all knew what was coming. A couple of geezers started it, others (me included) joined in, and then it was up and running – the inevitable, irresistible chorus of “are you Tottenham in disguise” rung out loud and clear amongst the howls of derision from the stands around us.

So out of place, so wrong, but so bloody funny!

Other great songs and moments down the years all have the same thing in common – bad taste and spontaneity. Remember the Chris Hughton testimonial at the Lane in the early 90’s? Our end rammed so that we could take the p*ss out of that old kerb crawler Pleat just days after the Luton constabulary apprehended him “Who’s that driving very slowly, who’s that paying for a whore,” we sang, waving inflatable Linda Lovelaces at him.

Anyone remember Chelsea singing to “Did you get ‘ere on the bus?” to Tony Woodcock on the day his licence was taken away from him? Classic! Or us singing “What’s it like to have no neck?” at Stan Lazarides one cold night at Upton Park? Martin Keown and his “monkey’s head” – great stuff.

So like everyone, my initial reaction to the Villa fans singing about Eduardo the other week was one of outrage. But having managed to translate the words from Brummie into English, I have to admit that it really made me laugh. If it had been a Spurs player and we’d thought of it, we’d have been singing it for weeks.

Credit where credit is due to the Villans – original, quick out of the traps, and downright bad taste – just how terrace humour should be!

Get well soon Eddie!

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